Method of making lubricated joints.



I. S. LEAKE.

METHOD 0F MAKING LUBRICATED IOINTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1913- L155A95., Patented 0@t.l ,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

m5, l f? N M@ IM-MMM J. S. LEAKE. METHOD or MAKING LuBRrcATED loms.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 1913.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I( INI/ENTOR.

di@ AT JOHN S.

METHOD OF MAKING LUBRICATED JOINTS.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ct. 5, 1915.

Application filed December -29, 1913. Serial No. 809,155.

.of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Making Lubricated Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of making lubricated joints, applicable particularly to flexible, or ball joints, for metal pipes employed in the transmission of fluids under pressure, though it may be capable of broader application.

An object is to provide a method of making a joint in4 which a lubricant is embedded in, or formed integral with one of the principal members of the joint.

Another object is to provide a method of forming a joint in which a lubricant is directly embedded in the working face of the main enveloping member in the process ofcasting said member.

A further object is the provision of a method of forming a joint whereby a shaped lubricant positioned on an inner member, will be embedded in the working face of the main envel ping member of the joint and said worki g face will be chilled by the molteny metal coming into contact with the working surface of the inner member.

vWith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings (comprising two sheets) which form a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters deslgnate like parts in the several views; Figure 1, 1s a central vertical section tical section of the drag box as prepared t'o form the exterior of the main enveloping member; Fig. l9, a vertical section of a mold ready for pouring; Fig. 10, an elevation of an inner member prepared to serve as a mans amn` rca.

LEAKE', 0F LOUISVILLEL KENTUCKY..

core, the shaped lubricant being a series of cones instead of a solid ring as in Fig. 6.

.Referring to the drawingsv -1- designates a ball member having a passage -2- therethrough, and means, such as screwthreads -3- for the attachment of a pipe. A socket member P has an outlet 5 .and means, as screw-threads 6- for the attachment of a pipe. The socket member envelops the major portion of the ball and has a bearing ring -7- in sliding contact therewith at a distance beyond the center thereof ust sulicient to retain the ball within the socket. A plurality of lugs 141- are formed on the inner surface of the socket below the center thereof, and serve as a seat for the inner end of the ball. The socket 4. (Figs. 1 and 3) may be divided, on ahorizontal plane, into-upper and lower sections 9- and l0- the line of separation lying in the plane of the center of the ball, the sections may be securedtogether by any suitable means, such as flanges -11- and bolts -11-. A flange -12- fits in a seat 13*. The upper section 9 acts as a retaining ring to`hold the ball within socket. A bearing ring 8 is formed below the center of the ball a distance equal to that of the ring 7 above the center thereof (see Fig. 3) the ball being held between the two rings, this construction produces a perfectly tight joint that may be flexed freely, any wear being taken up by tightening the bolts 11. The bearing ring 8 may be placed lower in the socket member (see Fig. 1), in which case a gasket -23- may be placed between the sections to form a tight joint.

The lower bearing member instead of being a continuous ring may be a plurality of separate projections, or lugs -14 (see Fig. 2).

A lubricant -15-, of suitable nature, such as graphite, is embedded in, or formed integrally with the bearing rings 7 and 8 'and lugs 14. The lubricant may be arranged to present a continuous bearing surface 16- (see Fig. 2), or a series of points -17- (see Figs. 1 and 3).

The lirst step in the 'formation of the joint is the preparation of the inner or male member which is shaped, machined and polished, ready for service, it is then prepared to serve as a core byhaving applied to a portion of its surface a covering of a core material -19--, such as is gencontoured to form, in connection With the exposed surface of the male member, the interior of the enveloping member. An eX- am le of an 'inner member thus prepared is s own in Fig. 6. A mold" is prepared in whichA the matrix -25- is contoured to form the exterior of the enveloping member. The shaped refactory lubricant i's positioned on the male member Within the zonev With which the enveloping member is to contact. The male member thus prepared is yplaced Within the mold, a portion being embedded in the sand of the cope 20, and the other portion projecting into, or through, the matrlx in the drag 21, Which is to form the enveloping member. In casting, the molten metal will, on entering the mold, flow around the lubricant, embedding the same,

. and contacting With the metallic surface of the inner member 1, on .the zone adjacent the lubricant, be chilled by its contact therewith. The sudden chilling of the molten metal forms a dense hard crust, which makes an excellent bearing surface, the lubricant which is embedded in the metal,

forming this, the main enveloping member, lies fiush with said chilled bearing face and Serves to keep the same lubricated.

The foregoing description applies to joints of the class illustrated in Fig. 2, Where the main enveloping member is cast in one integral piece about the inner member of the joint, on which the lubricant is positioned and against which the bearing face of the enveloping member is formed and chilled. In this style of joint, the inner member of the joint is used as the chill. In other forms of joints, of Which those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, may be taken as examples, it may be found advantageous to use a chill having the same dimensions as the inner member, instead of using the inner member itself. In producing the shaped lubricant, I make a mixture of a suitable lubricant, preferably, graphite, With a suitable binder, to form a plastic mass, this is then molded in any suitable shape and allowed to harden. The shape in Which the.

lubricant is molded Will depend on the class of joint vin which it is-to be used. In some classes of joints it may be desired that the lubricant present a continuous bearing face as illustrated in Fig. 2, in s'uch cases the lubricant would be molded in a solid ring as illustrated in Fig. 4. In other cases in which itis desired that the lubricant present on the surface in spots as illustrated in Figs.I 1 and 3, the lubricant would be molded 'in the shape of truncated cones 17, a plurality -of Which are united by a flexible connective -18 having a high melting point, such the member and the ends thereof twisted t'of gether as at 22 in Fig. 10.

It is thought that the method ofmanufacture, and the manifold .advantages of my invention Will be apparent Without further description.

It is to be `understood however that changes, variations and modifications may In .applying a series *of f a core, and casting the outer member integrally about said inner member and lubricant, of metal which Will chill on contact with said inner member forming a h'ard bearing surface. i

2. The methodofforming a lubricated ball-joint, consisting in positioning a shaped, refractory, lubricant on the ball member as a core, and casting the socket member integrally about said ball and lubricant.

3. The method of forming alubricated jointconsisting in positioning a lubricant on one member as a core and casting the other member about the first named member and lubricant, using a metal Which on contact with the first named member will chill forming a hard bearing face.

4. A method -of forming a lubricated joint, consisting in positioning a shaped refractory lubricant about one member of the joint and casting the main enveloping member about the first named member and the lubricant using a metal which on contact With the first named member Will chill forming a hard bearing surface.

5. A method of forming a lubricated joint consisting in positioninga refractory lubricant about one member of the joint, as a core and casting the other member integrally thereabout in such manner that said consisting in positioning core material and' a refractory lubricant about one member of a j oint, thus preparing said member toserve as a core, arranging a mold about said member, pouring molten metal into said mold to form the main enveloping member of the Vjoint integrally about the first mentioned member in such Wise that said second member envelops 'a major portion of the first member but contacts therewith only on a narrow zone adjacent said lubricant'.

7. A method of forming a joint comprising an inner and outer member, said outer member having a lubricant embedded therein and exposed on the bearing face thereof, `said method consisting in covering portions I 8. A method of forming lubricated ball joints consisting Ain ositioning a refractory lubricant about the all member, preparing said member to serve as a core by applying core material to a portion of the surface thereof, arranging a mold about said member, pouring molten metal into said mold to form the socket member of the joint integrally about the ball member in such Wise that said socket member envelops the major portion of the ball member but contacts therewith only on narrow zones adjacent said lubricant.

JOHN SrLlEAKE. Witnessesz V. E. SCHMIEDEKNEGHT, W. B. -SiNUNNnLn 

